Lighter



Sept. 14, 194 J. F. ROGERS LIGHTER Filed Aug. 28, 1945 INVENTOR.

ms; E Roar/vs 7 4% M 50 52 g,%m

RUDE/V575 the directionotthe arrows. Y

Fig..- 4: is a. topplan viewor. a modified. form of and" of I any desired height; filled with a suitable absorbentzmaterlal fl and Patented Sept. 14, 1948 PATENT OFFICE- M49414: v l

LIGHTER Jhmes lb-Ro'gers, Rocky Riven. Ohio AnplfcatifinuiugustZS, 19i45;,seria1.1vo; 613,052.

This. invention relates to lighters" (if the so called" sparking? type. amf fisi'ts primary ob"- i'ect the provision of a: lighter." which is: simple in construction.inexpensive to manufacture: and emcientl. in operation.

Another object of the present invention is: to provide for a lighter .of'thi'jstype a novel sparki'ng, mechanism of shnmifl'ed construction and operation, and which assures the? production of a sharp strong spark each time: the mechanism? is actuated,,. thereby assuringiignition" of the wick.

Another object. is to. provide, fora lighter of type. a sparking. mechanism which is formed of a minl'mum'i number. of parts,,- and wherein a singleelementtaliesthe nl'ace ofthe usual ratchet wheeliand' the serrated steel? sparking wheelwhich contacts. thefilht in the production; of the spark.

A general object to provide a lighter of the character referrer-Ito andi whichls certain in. its operation inasmuch as. a. single actuation of: the sparking. mechanism effectssubstantiall'y withoutfail the ignitibn oi? tfiewi'cli; Further and; additional .ollaihct's and advantages nothereinbe-forerefierreditowiIIb-ecome-apparent during the detailed description ofseverall embodimerits of the. invention which ist to follow.

Referring tothe, accompanying drawing.,il'lustratlng the embodiments of; thelnvention.

Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional. view through. one form. at lighten embodying; the imzentiomand is taken. substantially onlitre l l-.-- t Fig. looking the directionaof the arrows. I

Fig.. 2= is: an eleyationaL view of: the lighter shown in- Fie. L with a certainportion of the sparking-- mechanism broken. away tov .reueale a part located therebehind;

Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsectional. view through the: lighter, and taken substantially on: the irregular line 3-4 of: 191e,. 1', looking in lighter embodying. the invention and Fig. 5 isaview partly Inelevationand partlyljn section. or the modif ed form .shownd'n Fig.1., 4.;

The lighter shown in Figs. I to 3' inclusive comprises a casing II) which, in the presentinstance.,,..i's elongated" and tubularin cross section The casing I'll" is this material can be saturated with the volatile 2 l inflammable liquid through a screw-threaded opening I 2 in the bottomv of the-casingandwhi'ch opening is normally closed by the removable screw thread'ed plug or cap l3.

The upper or top of the casing I0 is provided with a screw-threaded opening M, in which the screw-threaded wick-guide i5 'is removably mounted. A wick l6" extends through-"tiresome F5 and has its lower end surrounded by the-absorbent material H, as will be well understood.

A tube IT extendsfrom the bottom-tothetop of thecasing" Ill; with the npp'erand longer pm"- tion of the tube being shown inthis instance as inclined to the vertical, while the lowerand shorter portion thereof extends vertically. It will" be understoodthatthetube H could, if de'esi'red, be otherwise formed, and that? it could extend entirely angularly or entirely vertically-L The lower vertical portion of the-tube I1 communicates with an opening in the bottom of the casing'and' is internally screw-threadedso that the: threaded post It of a removable" cap or plug' l9 can be screwed into this portion of the tube to close the same and said opening" in the bottom of the casing. Said post I8 is provided at its. inner end with a smooth reduced portion engaging. the' lower end of a coil spring 20; which extends upwardly in the inclined portion of the tube I 1, and has itsrupper end abutting the-lower endofthe flint 21 that projects. outwardlyofan opening in the top of. the casing'l'll, and adapted to engage under spring'pressure' theserratedsteel Wheel laterito. be referred to.

The sparking mechanism is. carried'by the top of the casing 10 and includes a pair of spaced, vertically extending ear-s22 securedtio thetop of the casing to by any suitable means, as for in:- stance by welding. A pin1213 is journaled in the ears 22,1 and mounted on this pin is the steel sparking wheel 24 Heretoforefinlighters: of this type ithas been customary in thesparking'mechanism to provide a steel sparkin Wheel with the circumference" thereof that contacts the flint scored orserrated, and, in addition, to provide a ratchetwheel torrningpart of the operatingelements' ofthe spar-king mechanism:

In accordance with the present invention-the sparking mechanism is simplified"and rendered more efficient and positive in function and the parts thereof are reduced in number inasmuch rapid wearing of the parts.

3 as the single steel sparking wheel 24 performs herein the dual function of the sparking wheel and the ratchet wheel heretofore considered necessary in lighters of this type.

The wheel 24 is provided on its circumference with the usual shallow serrations or grooves 25, and in addition is provided on its circumference with relatively deep grooves forming ratchet teeth 26, there being four such deep grooves and ratchet teeth indicated in the drawing for purposes of illustration. The four deep grooves forming the ratchet teeth 26 are V-shaped with one side extending in a radial direction while the other side is at an angle to the radial and these grooves have the utilitarian purposes now to be referredtow When the lighter is not in use and the wheel 24 is at rest, the upper end of the flint 2| will.

engage in one of the deep grooves forming the stantial resistance because of the engagement of the flint in the deep groove or ratchet tooth 26. fin overcoming. this resistance and in causing the fiint2| to ride out of the deep groove 26, substantial frictional contact or pressure is created between the upper end of the flint 2! and the periphery of the wheel 24 adjacent said deep groove, and such frictional contact or pressure produces from the flint sharp and strong sparks, thereby assuring ignition of the wick I6. This isan important feature in a lighter of thi type andconstitutes a marked advantage over prior lighters. The sparking wheel 24 also serves the function of the separate ratchet wheel heretofore used.

A hood 2'! is soldered orotherwise secured to a member 28 that has depending ears or flanges 29 extending on opposite sides of the steel sparking wheel 24. The flanges 29 are provided with transverse openings through which the pin 23 extends, so that the member 28 is adapted to move about the axis of the pin 23, and the hood 2'! is so positioned'with respect to the pin 23 that it will cooperate" with the exposed wick 1-6 to thereby extinguish the flame as will be well understood. a A. pawl 30 is mounted upon a pin 3|, the ends of whichare supported by the ears or flanges 29. A'coll spring 32 surrounds the pin 3| and has one end fixed, while the opposite end cooperates with the pawl 30 to hold the latter in engagement with the steel wheel 24 and particularly with the deep grooves forming the ratchet teeth 26 thereof. It will be seen that when the member28 is moved about the axis of the pin 23 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, the hood 2! is removed from the wick l6 and due to the fact that the pawl 30 is carried by the member v28, the steel wheel 24 with which the pawl cooperates is caused to move in a clockwise direction. The pawl 30 may be substantially coextensive in width with the wheel 24 and said pawllan'd wheel are aligned in the same plane, wherefore the thrust of the pawl does not tend to twist the wheel sideways and cause a resultant Since the flint 2| is engaging in one of the deep grooves 26 of the wheel 24 at the start of the wheel movement, the

clockwise rotation of said wheel always produces position with the pawl idling over fo'rmJ The upper plate'ofthe casin'gjljl infthemjodi- To facilitate the clockwise actuation of the member 28 from its normally closed position indicated in Fig. 1 to its raised position, at'wh-ich time the wick i6 is ignited, an actuating handle 33 is provided, and said handle has depending ears or flanges 3311 provided at their lower portions with transverse openings through which extends a pin 34 that is journaled in the ears 22 at a point to the rear of the pin 23 and slightly below the horizontal center thereof.

The handle 33 is provided with an extension 33b, the upper surface of which may be knurled, and said extension is adapted to act as a thumb support for moving the handle about the axis of the 1311136., -A coil spring fiencircles the pin 34 between-the flanges'33aLa-nd has one end engaging the top plate of the casing Ii] while its opposite end engages the undersurface of the ex- .tension 33b, and said spring functions to return the handle 33 from its raised position to its nor- .1v mal idle position indicated in Fig. 1.

The flanges 33a of the handle 33 are provided *with- T-sh'aped'slots 36, which are located and extend in the position indicated in Fig. 2 when the lighter parts are in their normal idle relationship. These T-shaped'slots 33 align in the oppo'slte flanges 33izand the T-iportiorisj;-of the slots [are so positioned with respect to the axis ofjthe pin 34 that the pin 23'rides within the slotshwhen the handle 33 is depressed and moved about the 7 36 move aboutthe axis ,ofthepin 34'. p c

It willtherefore be seen that when. the. han- "dl'e '33fis depressed so as to move about the ,axis of the pin 34 in a clockwise direction; as'viewed in the drawing, thelegs 35a of the slQts36 co operate with the pins or extensions 3110f the member and cause said member to be moved about the axis'of thepin 23 from the'position shown in Fig, 1 to a position angular-1y displaced therefrom, in a clockwise direction; During this movement "of the member 28' the's'teel wheel has been rotated in'a clockwise direction by the pawl 30 carried by themember 28, and-thus said wheel 24 has first overcome the frictional reslstan-ce of the flint 2| in-riding out of the deep groove 23in which'it-extended and has caused a sharp; intense spark or seriesof sparks which ignite the wick 6 it being recalled that the hood 2! no longer covers'the wick; ;When it is'de'sired to extinguishthe flame of the wick,- the pres sure on the handle 33; is released and the spring 35 returns the movable parts-to their normal idle the wheel iii ring suchjreturn movement 7 -1 In the modified form lig-hterembodying'the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, theicasing, the wick, wick guidean'dlmountingfontheflflint I y s s ant al oifihe ame :qqns r stion as in the previously,jdescribedfform',and

thereiorefthe same referencecharacters are. em-

ployed 5th indicate' 'th ese parts 11 theigmqdifie'd fled form of constructioniis providedfwithapair .ofspaiced; vertically extending ears 38, in which isijournalediiaflo i il ea in steel sparking-f wheel,

gamete.

similar to the steel wheeliwl -of the previously describedform is, mounted. on. the pin 39. and. is provided on its periphery with shallow. serration teeth or grooves 4| and with four equally spaced relatively deepgroovesor. ratchehteethfl. Straddling the wheel 46 are the, downwardly extending legs ofa U-shaped actuatihg'member 43;.said legs being located intermediate the wheel" 40' and the cars 33, and-being: provided-with transverse openings rotatably interfltting the pin 39. The

legs of, the actuating member 43 are providediwith forwardly projecting spring arm extensions 43a, thefree'en'ds orwhich-support a; Wick hood 44 comparable toandserving the purpose of the hood 2'! previously described.

A rat trap spring 45 functions to normally maintain the actuating member 43 in the idle position shown in Fig. 5. The member 43 is provided with a transversely extending pin 46, on which is mounted a pawl 41 adapted to engage in the relatively deep grooves or ratchet teeth 42 of the wheel 4!], it being understood that a suitable spring maintains said pawl in such engagement.

It will be seen that when the actuating member is moved in a clockwise direction against the action of the rat trap spring 45, that the pawl 41 effects a clockwise rotation of the wheel 40. This rotation of the wheel 40 must first overcome the frictional resistance exerted by the flint 2| which is engaging in the then lowermost deep groove or ratchet tooth 42. In overcoming such resistance it will be understood that the strong engagement of the flint with the periphery of the wheel 49 causes a sharp, strong spark to be emitted, which ignites the wick as in the previously described form. It will also be understood that when the user releases the pressure of the actuating member 43, the rat trap spring 45 returns said member to its normal idle position, as indicated in Fig. 5, and during this return movement the pawl 41 idles over the circumference of the wheel until it comes to rest in the then uppermost ratchet tooth 42.

Surrounding the sparking mechanism of the modified form of construction is a U-shaped wind guard 48 which may be detachably mounted in position, as will be understood, and which is provided in line with the wick [6 with an enlarged opening 49, affording to the user of the lighter access to the flame. Preferably the wind guard 48 will be provided in its sides adjacent to the wick with breather openings, not shown but well understood in this art.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a lighter of the character described, a casing having a compartment for absorbent material adapted to be saturated with inflammable fluid, a wick extending into said compartment from exteriorly of said casing, a spring pressed flint carried by said casing and projecting exteriorly thereof adjacent to said wick, a sparking mechanism carried by said casing and including a sparking wheel provided on its periphery with shallow serrations or grooves and with circularly spaced relatively deep grooves, said flint engaging in one of said deep grooves when the lighter parts are in their idle relationship, and means engageable with said wheel in another of said deep grooves for rotating said wheel to evercometheiresistance of: said flihtandl to cans-e said innateride out of; said: deep' groove: and a streng snark-to be emitted frnmisaidr time to:- ignitezsaidiwichz 1 1 I e a 2 me light-"er of: the: character described}, a casing having a compartment for absorbentznrm terieil adapted to= be saturated witlrinflammable fluidgai wick extending into. said compartment from exteriorly oi said casing; a spring pressed flintcazrried by: said casing" andi projecting: exateriorly" thereof-adjacent to sai'd' wick, a sparking mechanism carried by said casing: and incl'udihg a combined sparking and ratchet wheel provided omits peripherywithshallow grooves or serrations and with circularly spaced relatively deep grooves forming ratchet teeth, said flint engaging in one of said deep grooves when the lighter parts are in their idle relationship, and means for rotating said wheel to overcome the resistance of said flint and to cause said flint to ride out of said deep groove and a strong spark to be emitted from said flint to ignite said wick, said means including a Wheel actuating pawl engaging another of said deep grooves during said rotation of said wheel.

3. In a lighter of the character described, a casing having a compartment for absorbent material adapted to be saturated with inflammable fluid, a Wick extending into said compartment from exteriorly of said casing, a sparking mechanism carried by said casing and including a combined sparking and ratchet wheel provided on its periphery with serrations and with circularly spaced ratchet teeth, a spring pressed flint carried by said casing and projecting exteriorly thereof adjacent to said Wick and cooperating with the periphery of said wheel and engaging in one of said ratchet teeth when said wheel is idle, and means for rotating said wheel including a pawl operatively cooperating with the ratchet teeth of said wheel.

4. In a lighter of the character described, a casing having a compartment for absorbent material and adapted to be saturated with inflammable fluid, a wick extending into said compartment from exteriorly of said casing, a, spring pressed flint carried by said casing and projecting exteriorly thereof adjacent to said wick, spaced ears carried by said casing, a pin carried by said ears, a combined sparking and ratchet wheel mounted on said pin and provided on its periphery with shallow serrations or grooves and with circularly spaced relatively deep grooves forming ratchet teeth, said flint always engage ing in a deep groove of said wheel when the lighter parts are in their normal idle relationship, a member mounted on said pin and rockable relative to said wheel, a spring pressed pawl in its idle position, said operating member being provided with an elongated slot in which said pin may have relative movement, and cooperating means on said members operatively interconnecting the same, whereby rocking movement of said operating member is imparted to said other member.

5. A lighter as defined in claim 4 and wherein each other whereby said pawl imparts rotation 10 to said wheel without any tendency to twist the wheel sideways.

JAMES F. ROGERS.-

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,844,481 Rogers Feb. 9, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Number Country Date 126,538 Great Britain May'15, 1919 382,344 Germany Oct. 1, 1923 826,735

' France Jan. 12 1 938 

